I decided to study at the Faculty of Teacher Education because it is a partner institution of my home university, which means I can count some of the courses toward my degree. I also wanted to study in Zagreb/Croatia to get to know the country and the region better.
The professors at the faculty are very friendly and have always helped me with any questions I’ve had. The classes were easy to follow and prepared me well for the exams. To organize your classes so that they don’t overlap, you have to talk to the professors personally to find out when each class takes place and put together your own schedule.
That was a bit challenging at first, but it worked out well in the end. Our buddies (Croatian students from the faculty) were always available to answer any questions we had about these issues.
I lived in a shared apartment with other international students. I found this apartment through the website roominzagreb.com. I paid about 450 euros a month for it, and grocery costs are a bit lower than in Germany. For students, the menza is a great option (a meal costs less than 1 euro), though there are hardly any vegan options there. I got around mostly on foot or by tram. Both work well—the trams aren’t always exactly on time, but one usually comes along. Tram tickets aren’t expensive: a single ride costs 53 cents, or you can get a monthly pass for 15 euros if you ride often.
Especially at the beginning of the semester, I found the ESN activities very useful and helpful for getting to know new people and the city. Since there are so many international students studying in the university’s various departments but brought together through events like these, you can meet a lot of great people very quickly here. Otherwise, there’s plenty to do in the city—I spent a lot of time in the bars, cafes, and parks. You can also take wonderful trips by train or bus from Zagreb to other Croatian cities or abroad.
